Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698945975571.pdf (Uganda)
PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA OFFICE OF THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION ALTERNATIVE MINISTERIAL POLICY STATEMENT EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FY 2020/2021 Hon.
Francis Zaake, MP SHADOW MINISTER 1 Contents Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................2 Acronyms and Abbreviations ..............................................................................................................6 Chapter 1: Background to Alternative Policy Statement ......................................................................7 1.1 Legal Provisions for presenting Alternative Policy Statement ............................................................ 7 1.2 Sector Overview .................................................................................................................................. 9 Chapter 2: Situational Analysis of Ministerial Policy Statement ...........................................................9 2.1 Budget Allocation to the East African Community Affairs sector ....................................................... 9 2.2 Key Outcomes of the Sector ............................................................................................................. 17 2.3 Gender and Equality Compliance ...................................................................................................... 18 2.4 Alignment to the National Development Plan ................................................................................. 18 2.5 Emerging issues-Gaps; linkages and opportunities .......................................................................... 18 Chapter 3: Alternative Policy Statement .......................................................................................... 20 3.1 Key focus areas ................................................................................................................................. 20 3.2 Key outcomes .................................................................................................................................... 21 Chapter 4: Conclusion, A summary of the key Alternative Policies ..................................................... 24 2 Executive Summary The authority to present the Alternative Policy Statement is derived from Rule 146 of the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament of Uganda, and Section 6E of the Administration of Parliament (Amendment) Act, 2006 which require and empower Shadow Ministers to present alternative policy statements on the floor of the House for possible consideration and implementation.
In accordance with the above frameworks, we submit this Alternative Policy Statement to Parliament for the East Africa Community and Regional Development portfolio for FY 2020/21.

The East African Community (EAC) is a regional organization of Six (6) Partner States: the Republics of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, the United Republic of Tanzania, and the Republic of Uganda, with its Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda have enjoyed a long history of co-operation under successive regional integration arrangements including a Customs Union between Kenya and Uganda in 1917, which Tanganyika then joined later in 1927; the East African High Commission (1948-1961); the East African Common Services Organization (1961-1967); and the East African Community (1967-1977) which was revived on the 7th/July/2000 through the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community (the Treaty Establishing EAC) signed in 1999 by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania1 1The Republic of Uganda: A guide to policy development & management in Uganda, October 2013 pg.9 2 East Africa Regional Development Cooperation Strategy 2016-2021 Page 1 3 East Africa is rising.
Opportunities to advance sustainable economic growth and human development are increasing as is regional intra-dependence.

At the same time, challenges that are inherently regional like trade limitations, labour restrictions about movements, dragging political integration among others, have become more constraining and have increased the region’s vulnerability to negative shocks.
Mitigating these threats and achieving timely and durable progress across the region requires investment in the future of East Africa based on a strategy that emphasizes mutual trust, greater integration, collaboration and cooperation among East African countries and institutions.

The decade-long movement within East Africa to integrate individual economies and address challenges through coordinated actions is rooted in goals of using market scale, competition and collaboration to drive development.
The East African community had a long-term vision of an integrated, prosperous and resilient East Africa.

Scaling up technologies and best practices in trade, investment, agriculture, energy transmission, environmental and natural resource management, climate change, and security as well as ensuring prompt responses to critical health threats.
To achieve this, the East Africa Regional Development Cooperation (RDCS) was founded to take care of the following three priorities: 1) Promoting regional partner institutions as a local solution to support the Regional Inter-Governmental Organizations (RIGOs) in achieving long-term sustainable development within East Africa.

4 2) Intra-regional economic integration and trade as the means to growth to improve market access across borders, reduce barriers to trade and facilitating smart policy.
3) Regional resilience to internal and external shocks, i.e.
to identify and address the urgent and immediate threats to social, economic and political stability.2 4) And then later established East African Court of Justice (EACJ) of which its Vision is to be “a world class Court dispensing quality justice for a prosperous Community” with a Mission “to contribute to Regional Integration by ensuring adherence to justice, rule of law and fundamental rights and freedoms through the interpretation and application of and compliance with the East African Community Law.3 Regional Priorities over the 5th EAC Development Strategy Plan (2016/17 – 2020/21):  Consolidation of the Single Customs Territory (SCT) to cover all imports and intra-EAC traded goods, including agricultural and other widely consumed products.
 Enhancing free movement of all factors of production and other areas of cooperation across the Partner States as envisaged under the Common Market and Monetary Union Protocols.
2.Ibid pg1 East Africa Regional Development Cooperation Strategy 2016-2021 Page 2 3 East African Court of Justice Strategic Plan (2018-2023) page VI 5  Enhancement of regional industrial development through investment in key priority sectors, skills development, technological advancement and innovation to stimulate economic development.

 Improvement of agricultural productivity, value addition and facilitation of movement of agricultural goods to enhance food security in the region.
 Promotion of regional peace, security and good governance through Advocating for adherence to the principles of good governance; democracy; rule of law; and respect for human rights.

 The Legal and Judicial Affairs sub-sector to provide legal support to organs and Institutions of the Community and represent the Community in the East African Court of Justice, national courts and other courts.
 Almost all the 2020/21 budget of Shs 52.242bn for the sector is allocated to Administration, Policy and Planning program.

Regional Integration program which is at the very heart of the sector has been allocated a paltry Shs 1.135bn, up from 0.764bn in 2019/20.

This small budget is one of the reasons there is very low public awareness on EAC integration matters among Ugandans.
 Our proposed alternatives include; additional funding of at least UGX 5bn for the Regional Programme budget, implementation of EAC food security Policy, Establishment of a Regional Security Coordination Agency, Promotion of rule of law, constitutionalism and respect of Human Rights, pursue areas pf Comparative Advantage, Enforcement of the anti- dumping law, promoting of Kiswahili language for ease of communication and intensifying public awareness of EAC Integration.
6 Acronyms and Abbreviations BFP Budget Framework Paper BMAU Budget Monitoring and Accountability Unit CAA Civil Aviation Authority CAO Chief Administrative Officer CAR Central African Republic CICOA Citizen Concern Africa COMESA Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa CPA Comprehensive Peace Agreement EACAA East African Civil Aviation Academy EAC East African Community EACJ East African Court of Justice EALA East African Legislative Assembly FDC Forum of Democratic Change GDP Gross Domestic Product GoU Government of Uganda IGG Inspectorate of Government IMF International Monetary Fund JLOS Justice Law and Order Sector LoP Leader of the Opposition in Parliament MEACA Ministry of East African affairs MJCA Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs MLG Ministry of Local Government MTEF Medium Term Expenditure Framework by Program MTEP Mid-Term Expenditure Framework NDP-III National Development Plan III 7 Chapter 1: Background to Alternative Policy Statement 1.1 Legal Provisions for presenting Alternative Policy Statement Rule 146 of the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament of Uganda, and Section 6E of the Administration of Parliament (Amendment) Act, 2006 authorizes the presentation of Alternative Policy Statements as required by the Shadow Ministers on the floor of the House for possible consideration and implementation.
Section 6E (2) subsection (i) gives the Leader of the Opposition in consultation with his or her party leadership powers to appoint a shadow cabinet from members of the opposition in Parliament with portfolios and functions that correspond to those of Cabinet Ministers thereby keeping the Government in check which is the major function of the opposition leadership in Parliament.
In addition, Section 6E (4) requires The Leader of the Opposition (LOP) with his or her shadow Ministers to study all policy statements of government and attend committee deliberations on policy issues and give their parties’ views and opinions and propose possible alternatives to the same.

We therefore submit this Alternative Ministerial Policy Statement to Parliament for the East Africa Community and Regional Development portfolio In accordance with the above frameworks for FY 2020/21.
our belief in a people-centered regional integration and the improvement of our relationship with the neighboring countries to reduce border crimes and promote peace and security among the member states still stands.
We would also like to maintain that through the Ministry, we must pursue our areas of comparative advantage, establishment of a regional infrastructure coordination agency, promotion of Kiswahili language, intensification of public awareness on EAC integration, implementation of Community agreements and improvement of the 8 quality of Uganda’s human capital stock to enable it to be competitive in the region.

We must not lose sight on these advantages.


Therefore, the empowerment of our citizens must be our priority focus.

This we must do as we make the pursuit for democracy, rule of law and constitutionalism and a shared opportunity our bedrock for opportunity access in the region.

It is sad that, ten years down the road, most Ugandans still do not know nor appreciate much of the significance and benefits of the EAC!
1.2 Sector Overview In the same way, as we stated last year, the sector is in the best place to provide leadership, guidance and support for EAC, economic, political and cultural integration.

Spearhead Uganda’s access to a larger market of goods, services, skilled labour and security.

The sector also provides information and increases active participation of the Public and Private Sectors, Non-Governmental Organizations, Civil Society and other Stakeholders in EAC integration.
It also steers cooperation in various aspects of development like security, environment, research, communication and energy.

A focal sector that ensures timely and effective implementation of EAC directives and decisions, policies and programs by ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) and other stakeholders.
9 Chapter 2: Situational Analysis of Ministerial Policy Statement 2.1 Budget Allocation to the East African Community Affairs sector The Ministry of East African Community Affairs falls under the Public Sector Management.
Table 1: Sector Budget Allocations by program Bn Ug shillings 2018/19 2019/2020 2020/21 Medium Term Projections Programsvs Outturn Appro Spent Propos 2021/ 2022/ 2023/ 2024/ s ved by end ed 22 23 24 25 Vote : 021 East African Community Budget Budget 18 Regional 0.761 0.754 0.222 0.934 1.200 1.500 4.000 5.000 Integration Coordination 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 of the East African Community Affairs 49 Administration, Policy and Planning 33.386 51.487 27.344 51.307 61.247 73.19 85.38 102.0 3 8 23 Source: National Budget framework papers 2020/21 10 Table 2: Sector Budget Allocations for FY2014/2015-FY2019/2021 Budget allocation (Billion shillings)Budget Allocation (billion shillings) Financial 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 years MEACA 23.522 24.409 26.297 60.894 28.425 28.324 52.242 Public 1,265.32 1,017.60 1,384.42 1,173.53 1,577.70 1,615.80 727.566 Management Sector Allocation Percentage 1.9 2.4 1.9 5.2 1.8 1.7 7.1 share of MEACA to the Public National 15,829.71 23,972.26 26,360.44 29,608.64 32,702.82 34,304.70 39,640.8 Budget MEACA 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 percentage share of the National Budget Source: National Budget Framework 2020/21 11 Table 3: Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MEACA) 2018/19-2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24 (Excl.
Arrears and AIA) Budget Allocation in FY FY FY FY FY FY FY 2024/25 Billion Ushs MEACA 2018/19 2019 2020/2 2021/2 2022/2 2023/24 /20 1 2 3 Outturn Appr propos Projec Project Projecte Projected oved ed ted ed d Recurrent/ap Wag 0.965 1.135 1.463 1.135 1.135 1.135 1.135 proved e Non- 32.805 51.026 52.982 61.109 73.331 87.997 105.597 wage Development Dom 0.499 0.080 0.000 0.080 0.080 0.080 0.080 estic Dev Development Ext.

0.000, 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 Fin.


Total 34.269 52.242 54.446 62.325 74.547 89.213 106.813 , Total Budget (excl.

34.269 52.242 54.446 62.447 74.693 89.388 106.813 Arrears & Taxes) Source: National Budget Framework 2020/21 12 The largest amount of funds UGX 53.294 bn of the 2020/21 budget of UGX 54.446bn for the sector is allocated to Administration, Policy and 4planning program.
Regional Integration program which is at the very heart of the sector has been allocated only UGX 3.219bn up from 0.754bn in FY2019/20.

This small budget is one of the reasons there is very low public awareness on EAC integration matters among Ugandans.

Like we noted in our last year’s statement, public sensitization and awareness of citizens on EAC integration including cross border trade remain very low.
This problem persists and it needs priority attention because Ugandans need to benefit from the opportunities that come with the integration.

It should be noted that because of over-delayed payment of gratuity arrears for the former staff of the defunct Community airline, East African Airways (EAA), amounting to UGX 18,505,201,639 which remains unpaid since 1978, many Ugandans have bad memories of the EAC.
This problem is compounded by the fact that Uganda as a country does not possess a comprehensive and clear foreign policy document including on East African Community Affairs to guide on engagements in the East African Community Affairs.

This, we noted last financial year alternative policy statement as a major impediment to generating a clear strategic direction and objectives to pursue in the East African Community and indeed in the rest of the world.
The National Policy on East African Community, a single document which details the priorities, objectives, targets, policies and linkages with other growth and 4 The Independent; EAC Ministry tasked to explain unspent pension funds, August 15,2019 13 development targets remains key as we proposed last financial year.
To provide a clear framework of ensuring that the country and the people of Uganda effectively participate in the integration process and benefit in terms of improved welfare, economic growth and general development.i Source; Alternative Policy for FY 2019/20 Further, we note that it is not anchored in Uganda’s Vision 2040.

The policy underscores the three dimensions of regional integration, i.e.

economic integration, social integration and political integration, as on-going processes.
However it does not show any indication how Uganda will have to strengthen her competitiveness to ensure that the country does not lose out on market access, which is partly rooted in reciprocity and removing Non-Tariffs Barriers to regional integration.

As indicated in Table 4 below, trade with EAC partner States has shown signs of improvement in recent times.
As noted in the previous Ministerial Policy Statement, over the past years, there has been no change., as we noted then, Uganda has continued to register trade surplus mainly food stuffs – grain (sorghum, cereals, maize), milk and cream, and manufactured products such as soap, cooking oil, assorted steel products and a paraphernalia of low cost re-exports originating from Asia.
But this positive state of affairs was before, power struggle conflict messed up South Sudan, Rwanda closed its border with Uganda, over security concerns and 14 Kenya and Tanzania began sending back Uganda food exports to those member countries.5 Table 4: Uganda Merchandise Trade Balance with EAC Partner States (USD Millions) Financial 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 Year Exports Imports 907 671 Merchandise 236 Trade Balance 1,035 677 358 959 678 281 1,063 1,271 1,165 747 316 800 471 11 1,154 Source; Bank of Uganda; Report on the State of the Economy December 2019 The table below provides details by country vs Uganda.
TRADE BALANCE WITH EAC STATES (USD Millions) Countries Exports FY Imports FY 2017/18 2017/18 Trade Balance FY2017/18 Exports FY Imports FY 2018/19 2018/19 Trade Balance FY2018/19 Kenya 842 Tanzania 85 469 126 373 -41 487 77 694 433 207 -356 5 https:/www.worldpoliticsreview.com/authors/2519/sophie-nerman 15 Rwanda 253 20 Burundi 37 Southern 338 Sudan 1 7 233 36 331 167 45 389 15 6 6 152 39 383 Total 1,555 623 932 1,165 1,154 11 Source: Bank of Uganda: Report on the State of the Economy, December 2018 The ongoing Rwanda and Uganda standoffs can only be because of lack of strong policies or lack of respect for them.
It is a conflict that has destroyed private businesses and ordinary people's lives in both countries.

Regional manufacturers, farmers and traders have made big losses.

Border towns have literally closed shop, now coming to a full year.
In South Sudan, the government has for now over five years, failed to pay millions of US dollars to Uganda business people who supplied various goods and services to it .Some Ugandans have also reportedly lost their businesses and property to certain South Sudanese supposed partners and customers.6 All these misguided developments are unfortunate as they push back efforts of regional integration..
It is ironical that a region that has already embraced the initiative of the AU Agenda 2063 “The Future We Want for Africa”; and one whose flagship projects is: ‘Silencing the Guns as Pre-requisite for realizing a conflict-free Africa by the year 2020’, is going through these senseless challenges.7 6 https://seatiniuganda.org 7 East Africa Regional Development Cooperation Strategy 2016-2021 16 Have the feuding big men also forgotten that the EAC Vision 2050 recognizes peace and security as a sine qua non for the envisaged socio-economic transformation of the region and, thus, states, inter alia, that: The principles underpinning the EAC political integration include harmonization and coordination of regional policy frameworks with regard to good governance, democracy, peace, security, defense, human rights and social justice, as well as peaceful co-existence international relations?
There is no evidence that the Ministry is following up this policy and reporting progress to Arusha.

The East African Court of Justice: The Court is one of the organs of the East African Community established under Article 9 of the Treaty.
The Court’s major responsibility is to ensure the adherence to law in the interpretation and application of and compliance with the Treaty with a vision of the EAC which is, “To Create a Prosperous, Competitive, Secure (stable) and politically united East Africa8.” And a mission to "Widening and Deepen Economic, Political, Social and Cultural integration in order to improve the quality of life of the People of East Africa.” Publicity of the Court, lack of awareness of the arbitration jurisdiction; and lack of adequate governance policies.9 8EAC Home Page: Good Governance Key tom Regional Integration in East Africa; 11th October 2017 9 East African court of Justice, 2018.
East African Court of Justice Strategic Plan 2018-2023.

Pg.

14 17 2.2 Key Outcomes of the Sector Performance highlights as stated by the Sector  Popularized the National Policy on EAC integration  Carried out a post Assessment Closure of Cyanika, Katuna and Mirama Hill Border Posts.

 Monitored implementation of EAC Decisions & Directives.

 Coordinated bilateral negotiations between Uganda and EAC Partner states.

 Held 20 Talk shows to popularise Regional Integration Agenda in Uganda.
 Supported staff for professional capacity building to enhance their skills on strategic leadership, coordination and negotiation.

 Carry out Joint border sensitization/Strategic engagements; Mutukula, Busia, Elegu.
 Effected the Operationalised Elegu Regional Integration Centers (RICs) 2.3 Gender and Equality Compliance In regard to gender equity, the EAC Vision 2050 envisages, inter alia, that women empowerment and gender equity will be mainstreamed to ensure the participation of women in the transformation of the region; emphasizing that no society can reach its full potential, unless it empowers women and removes all obstacles to women’s full participation in all areas of human endeavors.
Gender mainstreaming means every gender being taken care of in every opportune matter or activity of in public life.

However, this has not been realized women and the disabled are still highly marginalized especially in the construction industry, whether it is infrastructure development or even private property development.
Also include a section on the alignment to national development plan 18 2.4 Alignment to the National Development Plan This section examines the various representations the NRM government has made to the people of Uganda through mediums such as their election manifesto, National Development Plan and other representations and commitments on EAC, through which the public were made to believe that they had been offered a firm undertaking(s) in the outgoing year.
It is a mandatory requirement under the NDPIII (2015/16-2020/21) that Sectors, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) align their development focus and priorities to the NDPIII in both content and time line.

2.5 Emerging issues-Gaps; linkages and opportunities  Conflicts among member states The conflicts between Rwanda and Uganda has already taken an economic toll.

The Ugandan Ministry of Trade recorded millions of dollars in losses, resulting from the border closure.
Uganda has also accused the Rwandan government of effectively imposing a trade embargo10.

The immediate victims of this standoff are small-scale traders, who earn simple incomes by crossing daily between the two countries to trade.

The Uganda- based Southern and Eastern Trade and Negotiations Institute, or SEATINI, has logged more than 6,000 complaints from border traders, most of them women.
The Gatuna boarder which was closed in February 2019 in the wake of tense relations with Uganda and Rwanda has made food prices of goods skyrocket in Rwanda, fuelling smuggling along the border.

This has hindered the lives of 10 www.monitor.co.ug, The costs, of ruined border trade, 23rd Feb. 2020 19 hundreds of businessmen in Uganda who thrived on the border as Rwanda hunts down smugglers.

 Challenges in the Agriculture Sector.


The EAC Agriculture sector faces challenges such as, poor Governance, inadequate legal and regulatory framework, insecurity, inadequate access to productive resources, inadequate participation of local communities, poor physical infrastructure and utilities, weak institutional frame work and low public expenditure.

 Common External Tariff Experts say implementing the Common External Tariff has been challenging to the Partner States.
There have been disputes with attempts to have them addressed not yielding substantial results.

11In the wheat industry, we have for instance observed protectionist tendencies which have been justified using rules of origin-related arguments.

Moreover, efforts in sensitisation/awareness-raising seem to have been too limited to allow relevant stakeholders realize the opportunities they could draw from EAC integration.

 Challenge of Non-Tariff Barriers.


The Non-Tariff Barriers have been successfully eliminated by EAC.

In their findings however, “a number of NTBs remaining in the EAC as well as in COMESA and SADC: while some have been eliminated, others are mushrooming up”.

 Single Customs Territory; 11 Makame, A.

2012.

The East African integration: Achievement and challenges.

GREAT Insights, Volume 1, Issue 6.

August 2012.


20 There are many other challenges like that of the Single Customs Territory; the problems arising from Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and Export Processing Zones (EPZs) regimes as well as those of Investments Promotion Authorities, the experts say.

This only presents the magnitude of work that the EAC still has to achieve genuine integration of the common market.
21 Chapter 3: Alternative Policy Statement 3.1 Key focus areas Our policy alternatives are directly and variously derived from election manifestos of the opposition political parties represented in Parliament, and our analytical review of this sector, drawing from the lessons and challenges emerging therefrom.
A strong East African Community can never be built on the basis of imperial presidencies and the altruism of strongmen but rather on the basis of strong states and nations where the citizen is central to that agenda.

12 3.2 Key outcomes Over the last one year, there has not been any recognizable change or improvement about the necessary support the EAC needs to function more efficiently.

If anything, the situation has only gotten worse.


As we noted last year, there is need to provide more funding for the Regional Integration Programme budget to enhance the implementation of MEACA’s essential functions including popularising the Community among ordinary Ugandans.
Specific and defined targets: Uganda must have specific, measurable and time bound targets in terms of harmonisation of laws and policies, for example what priority laws and how many such laws are supposed to be reviewed and aligned.

Indeed as we pointed out that harmonisation could not be done in five years our position has been proved true and therefore a rethink of the harmonisation process must be done.
Centralizing the people in decision making: the regional populace needs to directly participate in the election of leaders of the Community.

For example the 12 FDC Manifesto; 2016 - 2021 22 members of East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), judges of the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) as well as expanding the jurisdiction.
Forster good relations with the neighbouring countries: the evidence of good relations between Uganda and her neighbours would be seen through a single monetary system, customs union, non-tariff barriers, and transport and communication linkages for mutual benefits.

Partner states have to rein in one such hostility as between Uganda and Rwanda with the view to de-escalate in earnest.
Curb border crimes: In close consultation and cooperation with other sister countries within the East African Community, we would address issues of cross border crime, cattle rustling, and drug trafficking, smuggling and trafficking in illegal arms.

We would promote the reactivation of shared institutions of research and work for cooperation in regional peace and security.
Again s we noted last year, peace, security and good governance among the member states must be promoted: regional counter terrorism and extremism measures through effective intelligence, joint operations and expanding economic opportunities for the youth and marginalised groups would be good to be adopted.
As policy harmonisation continues to lack, its pursuit also needs to persist: Pursue regional economic integration through harmonisation of tariffs and investment in policy protocols that enable free flow of goods, services and labour.
If we were in government, we would push for setting the up of a regional Infrastructure Coordination Agency: while the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) in Kenya came up with an idea of having a coordinated infrastructure development in the region, other partner states and Uganda in particular did not 23 seem to buy into the idea.

Yet as we proposed last year, a regional agency for infrastructure development to fast track and coordinate regional infrastructure projects remains important.
Resources must be committed for this project.

As dumping remains a major threat to the entire regional environment and quality livelihoods, an anti-dumping law need to be championed: not only should we have our shared environment taken care of, but even the quality of import products our people consume needs to be paid attention to.

Laws about standards of goods for our markets must be implemented with forthrightness.
Promote Kiswahili Language: Our government would put in place incentives to promote Kiswahili language by making it compulsory in primary, O’ Level and at University, offering scholarships to students who want to pursue degrees in education with a bias in Kiswahili and setting up language centres at district level to offer free training for the Kiswahili language.

Also Swahili can be an added advantage for job opportunities across the board.
A strong EAC must observe and implement EAC agreements: as we said before, economic integration must be the strategy for economic development in the region.

The benefits of this approach include: improved infrastructure, improved business environment, increased employment opportunities and welfare of member States.

Food security is key for healthy a population strong: the regional policies for food security should inform the national policy so as to achieve harmony for because food a perishable good.
As such, there must be a regionally coordinated effort to ensure surplus in one country does not go to waste and the lack in another does not lead to starvation.

In a coordinated manner, surplus output must be sucked during bumper harvests so as to stabilise so that producers do not make losses to be released into the market during times of scarcity.
This would keep 24 Mainstreaming regional integration: We would mainstream regional agenda across and in line with government processes and structures where we would require that strategies, plans and budgets of all relevant ministries and agencies take fully into account the opportunities, risks and rights pertaining to Uganda’s membership of the EAC.
As we noted last year again, there is need to intensify public awareness and public participation in EAC regional integration process: Launch intensive and extensive public awareness campaigns to fast-track the EAC integration process, focusing on the key achievements of Uganda’s EAC membership, the available opportunities, on-going projects and address questions and concerns of Ugandan stakeholders on EAC integration.

These activities remain very important for implementation.
25 Chapter 4: Conclusion, A summary of the key Alternative Policies A summary of our key alternative policies, benefits therefrom and the impact of not implementing the policy alternative is presented in Appendix 1 Sector Area SMART Policy Alternatives BENEFIT/Anticipated Impact of not doing impacts/ Justification Strengthened trade integration in the region.

Low market Small bargaining power and high negotiation costs.
funding of at the for Additional least UGX 5bn Regional Integration Programme budget to hasten the implementation of MEACA’S essential functions.

Low trade volumes Stunted development or growth.

economic High cost of doing business Mainstreaming integration.

regional An enabling environment for private sector development to created.

Regional Integrati on Program me Implementation of EAC food security policy.

Establish a regional security Coordination Agency.

Boost Intra- Trade in the region.


pace Slow infrastructure development of Controlled scarcity of low in times of food production.

Boost in industrialization objective of the region.

the Creation of regional in agro value chains processing for example.

Greater peace and the security among member states Inadequate market centres and infrastructure Low production and limited markets Waste of major sources of food other especially perishables.
A secure regional territory Acts of international crime (including terrorism and piracy.

26 Promotion of rule of law, constitutionalism and respect of Human Rights.

Working towards prevention of global warming and environmental degradation.

Intensifying awareness integration public EAC on Violent governance.
conflict Bad A subjugated population Environmental degradation Species disappearance A society of respect and dignity among peoples Crisis prevention Conflict resolution Promotion governance Better weather patterns support to restored greater farming.

good of To save the environment Conducive existence environment human Unexploited opportunities Ignorance and apathy towards integration Increased awareness and appreciation of regional integration.
Enforcement of the anti- dumping law Maximizing domestic surplus total Missed opportunities High cost of production areas Pursue Comparative Advantage of Variety and cheaper goods on the market.
Low costs of production Duplication and unfair competition among businesses Crippled production Stifled development domestic Limited influence in terms of clientele and potential Promotion language of Kiswahili Relationships and trust built when working with citizens other from partner states Ease of communication and doing business 27 Administ ration, Policy and Planning Enforcement of the anti- dumping law Clean environment A filthy community of the EAC With our alternative policy proposals not very different from those of last year because of little change in the actions of governments in the EAC, we wish to maintain that integration offers great opportunities to be exploited by Ugandans and partner states in the region.
We must build capacity in order to reap from immense benefits that come with the EAC integration.

There are challenges which we need to address to which we, believe this alternative policy statement offers the answers needed to make the regional integration journey more meaningful to Ugandans.

I beg to Move i 28